Bandera 100K - 2011

This report is going to focus more on drop bags than the actual race.

Okay, it's time to pack drop bags for Bandera 100K 2011. Forecast for rain. Dang. Nothing is worse than Bandera mud. And maybe cold with rain. Last year's record lows remind how cold it can be there. And I cannot forget that 1st Bandera when it rained off and on the whole time.

So I packed my drop bags with what I thought I would need in any scenario of inclement weather at any time. Items in ( ) are in a ziplock bag. In each drop bag I also have a note card detailing what is in the bag. This reminds my feeble brain what is in there and I highlight the "Musts".

Started with:

Chapas (2 passes) Chia, Spiz, hammer gel flasks, (jerky, cashew clusters), (hummus roll up), (Long sleeve, short sleeve and sleeveless shirt) go-lite jacket (bra) (snap rain pants) (fleece shirt) (toilet kit-papaya-body balm-ginger chews) (Headlamp Bandana, gloves, headband)

X-roads (4 passes) Chia, 2 Spiz, 2 hammer flasks, (jerky, cashew clusters, no bonk bar?) (2 hummus roll ups) (long sleeve and short sleeve shirt) (long sleeve and short sleeve shirt) (pre-cip pants) (pre-cip jacket) (fleece shirt) (bra) (skull cap, hat, headband, bandana, socks x 2, gloves, batteries, poncho) (2 toilet kits, body glide, desitin, Blister kit, duct tape, sunscreen, biofreeze) shoes pack with big flashlight gel, kind bar, coffee beans, long sleeve shirt

Lodge (1 pass. Have camper at start/finish, so I do not need warm clothes for finish) (spiz, hammer flasks, (jerky, cashew clusters) (hummus roll up) ) (2 long sleeve shirts, 1 short Sleve shirt) ( hat light socks, gloves, bandana, toilet kit/papaya, poncho, arm warmers) (light rain jacket) (fleece shirt)

What did I actually use of all of this stuff?

Well, I was lucky that the rain held off until I was going over Lucky Peak the 2nd time (6 or 7 miles to go). I dropped my start jacket at Chapas ( mile 10) and ran in a short sleeve shirt till the rain started. I picked up a light rain jacket at Lodge. I was pretty sure I would hit Chapas before dark, but you never know. I also had my Moe-bens on the whole day, mostly at my wrists. At Chapas, I tied another long sleeve around my waist, as temps were falling. Nothing else at X-roads in, but at X-roads out, Doise said rain was close, so I switched the light rain jacket for my Marmot Pre-cip with hood. Good choice. Although I was ahead of the real downpours, the pre-cip is just a great jacket, and I did use the hood a couple of times. Never needed the long sleeve shirt around my waist. No need to change shoes or socks. Love those dirty girl gaiters.

Bottom line in my opinion is: Better looking at it than looking for it. Though I used very little of my gear, I had stuff at each aid station to keep me out of trouble. There is no way of knowing if or when bad weather will hit, but I like to be prepared, particularly when bad weather if forecast. Hypothermia is not a friend. It did storm with cold wind and rain shortly after I finished, and my hat is off to those who endured those conditions late in the night.

The race itself was another magical event put on by Tejas Trails and my good friends Joe and Joyce Prusaitis. Their events are always first class. This race was also the USATF 100 K National Championship, so I would be running without an I-pod. No pacers allowed either, though I usually do not have one. Enjoyed seeing and chatting with old friends and running into folks I've met at past events. Ran some with Fred T in the 2nd loop. He said his stomach was a bit off, but then he left me in his dust!! Doug J and a lady at Chapas saved me with Desitin (no details please). I had some in my bag at Xroads, but it was good to get it a bit sooner. (I had forgotten I had some body balm in my drop bag, but the Desitin was probably better.) Ran a good bit with German and his pacer David between Chapas and Xroads and then he and Ron on the inner loop. They left ahead of me out of Xroads as I made another Desitin stop. German was past Last Chance before I got there and I never caught up to him again.

Nutrition: I believe I went through 3 servings of Spiz and 2.5 flasks of hammer gel. I had 2 6 oz. flasks of Chia seed mixture. This tasted really good and seems a good fuel. I am starting to lean more to whole foods rather than processed. Waffles with peanut butter were good at Chapas. Turkey/cheese sandwich quarters, Cheese quesadillas and grilled cheese at X-roads, potato soup, roasted potatoes (Olga knew exactly what I was looking for at Lodge). Nibbles of sweet and salty stuff. There was plenty of good, real food there, I did not even touch my hummus roll-ups in my drop bag.

And, of course, what I look forward to each year is the traditional shot of tequila at Last Chance. It has only just started raining, and the mud is already building dead weights on my feet. I arrive at the aid station to a bunch of cheers. As I pull off my rain hood, they really start cheering. "Hey Diana. Great job. What can we do for you? " It really makes you appreciate what a great running family we have. David J was a bit light on the tequila pour at first, but obliged when I looked at him askance. I figured an E-cap was a proper side, and then the bacon offered by Roger was the finishing touch!!

It is always good to reach that final section. Some off and on rain. I was being really careful on the slick rocks. It is just time to get it done. I was feeling good about by time. I am a bit overweight and undertrained, but I was going to finish before 11pm when at one point I did not think I was gonna finish before midnight. No major pains, and no terrible weather. Tom Bolton catches me, we talk a bit, but he leaves me as I need one last potty stop. Finally, the descent down Boyles and home to the Lodge, a recovery beer, and telling stories while waiting for others to finish in that downpour.

Many thanks to all who offered their time and effort to make this a memorable event. I now have eight 100K finishes at Bandera and 1one 50K finish.

Notes & random thoughts:

Robert k.: gonna get cold Told no rain till midnight. Doise: rain should start any time

Pre aid station thoughts

Pre race Sunscreen and destine for places that do not see sunlight.

Allen D 8s to chapas

Bills passed at corner in fields Croosroads in did not get bag.

German

Start race with shorts, MoeBen sleeves, short sleeve shirt, and light rain jacket. I decided to carry at least a light rain jacket the whole way, as you never know what will happen. Spiz and water. Toilet kit, jerky, nuts packet.About 35 degrees at start, so the jacket was soon dropped. Did not need anything at Nachos 1st time through, so on to Chapas. Waffle and peanut butter. Got chia. Dropped Jacket, kept sleeves. Decided I did not have to carry jacket the whole way since I had something stashed in each bag.

Cross roads top off water and heed

Crossroads Spiz Julia helped

Last chance munch Lodge- Spiz/heed cap light jacket Nachos= munch top off chat with Bill

Chafe

Desitin at chapas soup?shirt

German and pacer David, Crossroads chia!! German and Ron Crossroads marmot Doise rain desitin

Started raining going up luckys Muck mud Ron

Last chance tequila with e-cap bacon hood/cheering German ahead Tom caught and passed me